Key-fastener.



No. 674,776. Patehted May 2|, 19m.

s. J. KBAEMER.

KEY FASTENER.

(Application filed Nov. 30, 1900.)

(No Model.)

W/TNE'SES: INVENTOH @9- d001, W M

omvsr SANFORD J. KRAEMER, OF PORTLAND, OREGON.

KEY-FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 674,776, dated May 21, 1901.

Application filed November 80,1900- Serial No. 38,255. (No model.)

To all whom it 111,07 concern:

Be it known that 'I, SANFORD J. KRAEMER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Portland, in the county of-Multnomah and State of Oregon, have invented a new and useful Locking Attachment for Door-Keys, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings as apart thereof.

My invention relates to devices for preventing common doonkeys when left in the lock being turned and the door unlocked by means of an instrument grasping the pin end of the key.

The object of my invention is to obtain an inexpensive device which may be readily attached to the bow of the common door-key for the purpose of holding the key against being turned in the manner referred to. The device invented by me for such purpose is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In such drawings, Figure l is an elevation of my device, the mouth of the clip being turned toward one instead of away, as it would be when inserted over the bow of the key. This figure also shows the clip as re moved from its supporting-bail. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the device. Fig. 3 is a perspective elevation of my device practically applied as designed for use. Fig. at is an elevation of the clip, showing the same provided with an adjustable screw whereby to secure the clip on the bow of the key. Fig. 5 is a plan of a clip of the construction shown in Fig. 4, illustrating the operation of said adjustable screw. Fig. 6 shows a longitudinal section of the clip provided with a pin in place of the adjustable screw for the purpose of screwing the clip on the bow of the key; and Fig. 7 shows a modification in the structure of the ends of the bail in this, that its outer surfaces are notched or serrated to cause the clip to be fixed in place, as will be hereinafter explained I The letters designate the parts referred to in the description of my invention.

My device consists of two pieces, a being a bail or piece of wire bent approximately in the shape of an inverted U, the same being made of material possessing sufficient elasticity, so that the ends of the bail when not under tension will slightly spread. Adj ustably secured on the ends of such bail is a clip 19, consisting of a piece of folded metal, the two leaves of which are suitably perforated to receive the ends of the bail. The perforations through the leaves of the clip are made slightly nearer together than the ends of the bail normally spread, and such ends are inserted in such perforations of the clip by compressing the same to register with such perforations. The object of this construction is to cause the reflex tension of the ends of the bail after having been inserted in the clip to bind the clip in place, so that the bail may not be easily lifted or pried out of the clip by means of an instrument inserted through the slot of the keyhole. For the purpose of still more effectually fixing the clip in place the outer surfaces of the bail ends may be notched or serrated, so that when the clip is being adjusted in position to be inserted over the bow of the key it may be alined with a horizontally-registering pair of notches or serratures c, with the effect of rendering the clip immovable without first compressing the ends of the bail, so as to release the clip from such notches or serratures. When the ends of the bail are notched, the perforations in the leaves of the clip must be of sufficient size that by compressing the extremities ofthe bail said notches may be cleared and the clip be freely adjusted in line with the key. To render the clip in such condition thatit cannot be pushed off the bow of the key by means of an instrument inserted through the slot of the keyhole, an auxiliary coutrivance may be employed as illustrated, for example, in Figs. 4:, 5, and 6. In the first example, Fig. 4, the upper leaf of the clip is provided with a central perforation, in which is inserted a thumbscrew 0, which after the clip has been inserted over the bow of the key is thereupon so adjusted as to enter the ring of the bow, with the effect of securing the clip in place until such screw is turned back clear of the bow of the key. In Fig. 6 the screw 0 is re placed by a pin d, which is lifted when the clip is inserted over the bow of the key and then dropped, so as to enter the ring of the bow and secure the clip on the key in the same manner 'as does the screw 0. Whether using a pin or a screw for fixing the clip on the bow of the key such pin or screw is inserted through the upper leaf of the clip only. By reason of the construction described with reference to the means for fixing the clip on the bow the pin would serve as well as the screw, for there being no registering perforation be low the pin in the under leaf the pin could not be disengaged from the key by an instrument inserted through the keyhole. VVhen using the pin, the same should be inserted in its perforation through the upper leaf of the plate out of which the clip is to be formed before folding the plate, and the base of the pin should be headed to prevent its withdrawal and possible loss.

It will be observed that the lower or under leaf of the clip projects somewhat beyond the upper leaf. This arrangement was designed to make it convenient for adjusting the clip on the bow of the key. When affixing the clip to the key, the former is raised until the projecting, lower leaf touches the bow of the key, and the clip being then pressed forward it is in place.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is--- 1. The combination of an inverted -U shaped wire or bail of sufficient elasticity, adapted to straddle 'the shank of the doorknob; a perforated clip comprising two leaves, the lower of which projects beyond the upper, and said clip being adapted to engage and hold the key by its bow against being turned in the lock, the perforations of the clip being nearer together than the ends of the bail normally spread, and the reflex tension of the latter operating to bind the clip in place, substantially as described.

2. The combination of an inverted-U- shaped wire, or hail, of sufficient elasticity, adapted to straddle the shank of the doorknob, and a perforated clip, adjustably secured on the ends of said bail, and adapted to engage and hold the key by its bow against being turned in the lock, the outer surfaces of the bail ends being notched or serrated; the perforations of the clip being nearer together than the ends of the bail normally spread, and the reflex tension of the latter operating to bind the clip in place, substan tially as described.

3. The combination of an inverted-U- shaped wire, or bail, of sufficient. elasticity, adapted to straddle the shank of the doorknob, and a perforated clip, adjustably secured on the ends of said bail, and adapted to engage and hold the key by its bow against being turned in the lock;' the outer surfaces of the bail ends being notched or serrated; the perforations of the clip being nearer together than the ends of the bail normally spread, and the reflex tension of the latter operating to bind the clip in place; and means for securing the clip on the bow of the key, substantially as described.

4. The combination of an inverted-U- shaped wire, or bail, of sufficient elasticity, adapted to straddle the shank of the doorknob, and a perforated clip adjustably secured on the ends of said bail, and adapted to engage and hold the key by its bow against being turned in the lock, the outer surfaces of the bail ends being notched or serrated; the perforations of the clip being nearer together than the ends of the bail normally spread, and the reflex tension of the latter operating to bind the clip in place; and a pin, 01, inserted through the upper leaf of the clip, and adapted to secure such clip on the bow of the key, substantially as described.

5. The combination of an inverted-U- shaped wire, or hail, of sufficient elasticity, adapted to straddle the shank of the doorknob, a perforated clip comprising two leaves, the lower of which projects beyond the upper, and said clip being adapted to engage and hold the key by its bow against being turned in the lock, the outer surfaces of the bail ends being notched or serrated; the perforations of the clip being nearer together than the ends of the bail normally spread, and the reflex tension of the latter operating to bind the clip in place; and a pin, 61, inserted through the upper leaf of the clip, and adapted to secure such clip on the bow of the key, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature, in the presence of two witnesses, this 3d day of November, 1900.

SANFORD J. KRAEMER.

Witnesses:

O'rro J. KRAEMER, O. B. SHELTON. 

